ADELAIDE chief executive Steven Trigg says the club expects to generate an additional $3 million over the next three years after details of the AFL's financial contribution to South Australian football were announced on Thursday.
The AFL has pledged $12 million to its two SA-based clubs ahead of the move to Adelaide Oval in 2014.
Port Adelaide is the main beneficiary, with the cash-strapped club set to receive a total of $9 million in grants over the next three years.
The Crows will also receive a 'financial package' as part of the agreement, but - by design - will have to work for their contribution estimated to be worth around $1 million a year.
Adelaide's financial uplift won't come in the form of a lump-sum handout.
Instead, the SA Football Commission will 'unlock' additional seats and corporate facilities in the current configuration at AAMI Stadium, allowing the Crows to generate an extra $3 million between 2012-2014.
The Crows, like the Power, have been hamstrung by a disadvantageous stadium deal and dwindling crowds at AAMI Stadium, are expected to be up to $3 million a year better off at Adelaide Oval through projected increases in membership, attendances and corporate revenue.
Trigg said access to more corporate boxes and seats at AAMI Stadium in the next two or three years would give the club a better understanding of how the Adelaide Oval model would work.
"This is not an ASD [Annual Special Distribution] or a handout for us. It's an opportunity to be able to grow the business by getting some more access to product in terms of corporate [facilities] and membership," Trigg said.
"We've been working with SANFL on the basis primarily that we should try and do here [at AAMI Stadium] what we're going to Adelaide Oval with.
"If the membership structure looks like it does at Adelaide Oval, we should be working towards it here at AAMI and if we get a certain amount of freehold corporate inventory [at Adelaide Oval], we should be working towards it here, so we can start to get ready.
"There's some strategy behind it … and if you add it all up it will come to about $1 million worth [a year] of uplift to us."
On Thursday, SA Football Commission chairman John Olsen also announced the game between Port Adelaide and Melbourne in round 24 this season, originally scheduled for at AAMI Stadium, would now be played at Adelaide Oval.
Olsen said construction at the Adelaide Oval site meant the clash between the Power and Demons would be the "one and only" AFL game played at the venue prior to the permanent move.
However, Trigg said the Crows were exploring the possibility of playing a NAB Cup game at the inner-city stadium next year.
"It's too hard for us in terms of the quantum of seats and the transfer for us [to play a game at Adelaide Oval this season]," he said.
"We had a discussion with Leigh Whicker and the crew [about playing at Adelaide Oval] and it's just too difficult.
"What we have done is put our hand up and said, if in terms of the construction process there's an opportunity for us to play a NAB Cup game there [at Adelaide Oval] … and we'll make a big deal of that."
Adelaide reported a financial loss for the first time in club history last year, announcing an operating deficit of over $800,000.
The Crows, who are languishing in 14th spot on the AFL ladder with just three wins for the season, have also flagged the possibility of another financial loss this year.
Chairman Rob Chapman said the financial package provided by the AFL and SA Football Commission was "timely".
"There are a lot of things going on external to football," Chapman said.
"We've got a tough economic climate, globally, nationally and even in this state.
"The two football teams here aren't performing as we would like and we've got the Adelaide Oval inflection point.
"There are a lot of things going on and that's way I keeping saying this is very timely, to sit down and discuss and debate all of the issues on the table."
Katrina Gill covers Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill
